I have a rack of four 10 gallon tanks that I would like to filter using a central canister filter. Is there any cost effective way of plumbing it so that all four tanks are filtered and no tanks overflow?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Can you hook up a canister filter to more than one tank?
- Thread starter boojumsnark25
- Start date
yes!
The most usual way is to drill the tanks to create what is known as an overflow. When there is a higher leven of water in the top tank, it flows through the overflow (much like in a toilet cistern) through a pipe and into the tank below. This can continue down through all of the tanks and the filter can pump it back up to the top tank again. There are also variations of this where tanks are on the same level, long pipes go to each tank and then to a central "stem". Then as they go back they are forced through an extra long spraybar that serves more than one tank.
Another way I have seen is for a pipe split where the in/out pipes are split into a number of seperate pipes (of equal length) that go into each tank. This is dufficult to maintain and when pumping upwards it requires more from the filter so the top tank could get less than the bottom, resulting in a possible overflow.
Before doing anything, make sure your external can handle the filtration needs of all of your tanks and remember that any problems in any tank will spread to all of the others.
The most usual way is to drill the tanks to create what is known as an overflow. When there is a higher leven of water in the top tank, it flows through the overflow (much like in a toilet cistern) through a pipe and into the tank below. This can continue down through all of the tanks and the filter can pump it back up to the top tank again. There are also variations of this where tanks are on the same level, long pipes go to each tank and then to a central "stem". Then as they go back they are forced through an extra long spraybar that serves more than one tank.
Another way I have seen is for a pipe split where the in/out pipes are split into a number of seperate pipes (of equal length) that go into each tank. This is dufficult to maintain and when pumping upwards it requires more from the filter so the top tank could get less than the bottom, resulting in a possible overflow.
Before doing anything, make sure your external can handle the filtration needs of all of your tanks and remember that any problems in any tank will spread to all of the others.
So, if I have the filter intake in the bottom tank, and the output in the top tank, and overflows in the top 3 tanks, would that work? Would all the tanks be getting enough filtration (the filter would be a very large one.)
Sorry if this is a stupid question, it's new to me!
:iagree: with this Don't even try the second method it doesn't work as you would like it to work. (Not to say it can't work it just takes a lot to balance it so that all tanks could get the right amount of flow)
Agreed.
boojumsnark25 - You would to connect the overflow from one tank to the next tank. And I would reccomend you create a pipe that takes water from the bottom of your aquarium for the overflows so as to create some movement and a good change of water per hour. othewise, yes this would work, given that the filter can handle it.
OK, let me try this idea on you guys and see if it would work or not
Top tank - canister filter output, overflow emptying into tank #3
Tank #3 - Identical but seperate overflow going into take #2
Tank #2 - Identical but seperate overflow going into tank #1
Tank #1 - Filter intake
Would that work or would I end up with an overflow somewhere?
Thanks for all the help!
Top tank - canister filter output, overflow emptying into tank #3
Tank #3 - Identical but seperate overflow going into take #2
Tank #2 - Identical but seperate overflow going into tank #1
Tank #1 - Filter intake
Would that work or would I end up with an overflow somewhere?
Thanks for all the help!
DAVIDFBT
Extinct? Since when?
Theoretically, it should work, now just try to find a way so the tank overflows into another tank.
Go to petsmart and look at their live plant section. All the stores by me are setup with one over flowing into the other. So naturally 1 tank is higher than the rest, and the last tank is the lowest which has the intake.
I think Ill try it with the diy pvc pipe overflows...if it doesnt work, its on concrete floor. Can anyone point me to or tell me step by step, idiot proof instructions on making a pvc overflow? I don't want to have to spend a bunch of money on thestore bought overflows.
Thanks!
Thanks!